Posted on 12/26/2017 9:18:03 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
Contrary to what many predicted, President Trump's end-of-year accomplishment list isn't that skimpy.
That's an analytical observation. For many, particularly liberals and Democrats, Trump's first year hasn't been merely bad. It's a great evil, a grievous wound to the American body politic.
But even that is a kind of partisan tribute to what's been accomplished on his watch: a record number of judicial appointments, including a Supreme Court justice; the defeat of Islamic State; repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate; tax reform; and major rollbacks of various regulations, from arctic drilling to net neutrality.
It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. Trump is the most unpopular first-year president in American history, for reasons far beyond mere bad press.
Still, among conservatives, the tally of "wins" has sparked some intramural debates. The most prominent one is how Trump skeptics and avowed Never Trumpers should respond to those wins. For writers such as the Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin and the Atlantic's David Frum, the only legitimate response is either to ignore these successes or denigrate them, lest people lose sight of the threat Trump poses to the country. Others, including myself, argue instead that one needn't deny the merits of a policy victory simply because the president might get credit for it.
This debate skips over the larger question of whether these victories happened because of Trump or despite him.
On one level, the president always gets the credit -- or blame -- for anything that happens on his watch. But Trump poses a challenge to such superficial scorekeeping. No president in American history has rejected Harry Truman's "The buck stops here" motto as vehemently or consistently as this one. He never accepts responsibility for his own mistakes, never mind those of his administration or party. When American troops die, the commander in chief blames "the generals." When legislation fails, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the "establishment" are at fault.
Trump boosters agree. Conservative writer Roger Simon argues that all "remaining Never Trumpers" must apologize for being wrong about the president. He chalks up Trump's "astoundingly successful" first year to the fact the president is a "quick study."
But what evidence is there that Trump has actually learned the art of presidential management?
Aside from the mandatory flattery required of Republican elected officials, there's remarkably little testimony that Trump has involved himself in the process of governing. Tax reform was carried across the finish line by the GOP congressional leadership. Net neutrality was repealed by independent Republicans at the Federal Communications Commission.
Foreign policy is a more mixed bag. If the president deserves credit for the defeat of Islamic State, it's because he let "the generals" do their thing. On the other hand, credit (or blame) for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris accord on climate change certainly goes to him.
In general, it seems to me that Trump's success (such as it is) is less attributable to sudden mastery of the issues than to staying out of the way of rank-and-file Republican policymakers, activists and bureaucrats.
For instance, the task of selecting judicial appointees, starting with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, has largely been outsourced to the Federalist Society. When the president revealed his new national security strategy last week, his speech -- the usual campaign blather -- had only a passing resemblance to the underlying document. The tax bill is clearly more in line with House Speaker Paul Ryan's ideology than candidate Trump's supposed populism. As for a counter example: When Trump was "hands-on" with Obamacare repeal, he often revealed he didn't even know what was in the legislation.
In 2016, some conservatives argued that Republicans should vote as if we live in a parliamentary democracy, electing a party, not a person. Trump's 3,000 political appointees would be better than Hillary Clinton's. That argument had its flaws, not least that voters tend not to compartmentalize that way -- which is why the GOP faces a potential bloodbath in the 2018 midterms.
But there's merit to it as well. To listen to Trump's cheerleaders, the biggest obstacle to conservative victories is the party establishment, when in reality it looks more like it's running the show.
Goldberg is as clueless as his mother.
It’s hard to believe this twerp is the same guy as the author of “Liberal Fascism.”
Well, Jonah’s not the first writer to have one good book in him and just drifted for the rest of his career.
Jonah continues to make a damn fool of himself.
So much misinterpretation and flat our wrongness is available from the pen of Jonah Goldberg. He is a virulent Never Trumper and he always will be. His opinions are pretty much worthless.
from link:
So besides defeating ISIS, what are Trump’s wins this year?
Tax cuts: ...
Economic growth: The GDP has grown by more than 3 percent for two quarters in a row.
Consumer confidence: In October, consumer confidence rose to the highest level in 17 years, according to the New York-based Conference Board.
Deregulation: Trump has cut 67 Obama-era regulations and added only three new rules. The rollback on regulations has spurred business confidence, economic activity and stock market growth. A senior official said the actions have saved $8.1 billion in lifetime net regulatory costs.
Stock market: The Dow has set record highs 70 times this year, rising 5,000 points in a year for the first time in history.
Judicial appointments: Trump has staffed the judiciary with constitutionalists such as Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Unemployment: Granted, Trump inherited low unemployment numbers from President Obama, but the number of people collecting unemployment benefits has continued to fall to a near 44-year low.
Trade: Trump worked out a trade deal with China, Vietnam and South Korea.
Israel: The United States’ relationship with Israel has been much improved since the last administration.
Immigration: In August, illegal border crossing apprehensions were down 41 percent on the southern border compared to August 2016.
U.S. energy: The Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines are under construction. Jobs to be created: 42,000.
Coal: Trump stopped Obama’s war on coal.
Climate change: Trump announced in June that he plans to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement, citing that it would undermine our economy.
Schools: Trump is giving the green light to school-choice programs across the country.
Obamacare fail: Congress failed to ‘repeal and replace’ the Affordable Care Act, but if the tax reform bill is passed, Obamacare’s individual mandate will be repealed.
Of course, the left credits Obama for ISIS’ defeat and the booming economy. And earlier this month, Obama congratulated himself for economic growth and job creation in a speech at a conference of mayors in Chicago, saying, “Thanks, Obama.”
Actually, Obama deserves some credit. His policies created a slow economic recovery, which forced businesses to get lean. Since taking office, President Trump has removed the regulatory weight and the economy is soaring again.
Look, Trump’s combative style reminds me of a certain three-time national champion basketball coach from Indiana. But like that coach, Trump has more wins than losses.
Goldberg is still a semi-delusional neverTrumper, but J Rubin and David Frump are in a class by themselves.
“For writers such as the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin and the Atlantic’s David Frum.....”
And THESE two, take note, are Goldbergs’ examples of writers.
If you needed any further indication of what a full on idiot he is, judge him by the company he keeps.
Goldberg kept using the term ‘conservative’ and ‘conservatives’ to describe those who are NOT as examples for this essay.
Rubin and Frum? Please! Roger L Simon at PJ Media was a liberal until mugged by reality. And who else did he mention? None but himself and his own pov.
>>>> To listen to Trump’s cheerleaders, the biggest obstacle to conservative victories is the party establishment, when in reality it looks more like it’s running the show. <<<<
Other Trump achievements Goldberg dismissed are too numerous to point out. Just the one above sentence showed how inept Jonah Goldberg’s grasp of things (well, I don’t know, maybe I can describe it as reality).
From now on, we can safely categorize Jonah Goldberg as “Republican Establishment conservative”, if ever there is such a term.
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